The Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem is revered by Palestinians religiously as one of the most sacred sites in Islam, and culturally as one of their most iconic symbols.

For the past three days the compound, known to Muslims as the Haram Sharif (Noble Sanctuary), has been the scene of fierce clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces.

Clashes started after Palestinians were denied entry to the mosque to allow Jewish activists to enter and mark the start of their new year.

Palestinians fear allowing Jewish activists to enter the mosque is the first step towards eventual partitioning of the site along religious lines.

Many Jewish activists claim the mosque sits on the site of a Jewish temple destroyed during the Roman era.

Palestinians run away during clashes with Israeli riot police after they are prevented from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. [Atef Safadi/EPA]

A Palestinian woman in Gaza City holds a copy of the Quran during a rally to protest against Israeli police raids on Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque. [Suhaib Salem/Reuters]

Palestinian youths push a rubbish bin during clashes between Palestinian stone-throwers and Israeli forces in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Issawiya. [Ammar Awad/Reuters]

Palestinians sweep up rock debris in Al-Aqsa Mosque after clashes with Israeli police. The compound is known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City. [Ammar Awad/Reuters]

Israeli police scuffle with Palestinians who were prevented from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, during the Jewish New Year.[Atef Safadi/EPA]

Israeli police raided the plaza outside Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday in what they said was a bid to head off Palestinian attempts to disrupt visits by Jews and foreign tourists on the eve of the Jewish New Year. [Mussa Qawasma/Reuters]